Threaded needle package



April 1965 R. UDDENBQRG 3,180,487

THREADED NEEDLE PACKAGE Filed March 19. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 1965R. UDDENBORG I 3,180,487

THREADED NEEDLE PACKAGE Filed March 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f5 llHIIHN H H Jade/r560;

mr-ce gs United States Patent 3,189,487 THREADED NEE LE PACKAGE RilrardUddenborg, 5154 N. Clark St, Chicago, Ill. Filed 19, 1962, Ser. No.189,759 7 Claims. (1. 296-47) This invention relates to a threadedneedle package, and more specifically, to a package containing one ormore pro-threaded sewing needles.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a package forone or more pre-threaded needles which is formed so that such needlesmay be sequentially removed without tangling the threads connectedthereto. Another object is to provide a holder for threaded needleswhich supports the needles and t reads therefor in secure and compactcondition ready for detachment whenever their use is desired. A furtherobject is to provide a simple and inexpensive threaded needle packagewhich is adapted to maintain its integrity despite the handling andrough treatment normally incident to the merchandizing, shipping andstoring of such a product.

Other objects will appear from the specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a needle package embodying the presentinvention, the package being shown in closed condition;

FEGURE 2 is a perspective view of the package in open condition;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan view of the open package, partly brokenaway;

FIGURE 4 is a broken exploded perspective view illustrating thestructural interrelationship between the components of the package;

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the package broken away to illustrate therelationship of the threads therein;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a package comprising a second form ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the package of FIGURE 6 in opencondition;

FIGURE 8 is a broken plan view of the second package in open condition;

FIGURE 9 is a rear plan view of the second package;

FIGURE 10 is a broken top plan view of an opened package constituting athird form of the present invenion;

FIGURE ll FIGURE 10.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 4,the numeral 19 generally designates a package comprising a holder 11 anda plurality of threaded needles 12. The needles are conventional sewingneedles which are pointed at one end and provided with eyes at theother. Threads 13 pass through the eyes, each needle being connected toa loop or double stretch of thread. While the total length of thread foreach needle may vary in accordance with the intended use, in most cases,it will be at least three feet in total length. Since each thread islooped, its effective length is reduced by one half; in the case of athree foot strand, the thread will have an effective length of one andone-half feet. If desired, the free ends of the two strands may beknotted together although such knotting is not necessary in thestructure and operation of the package.

The holder it comprises a mounting sheet 14 and a cover E5. The cover isfolded along parallel fold lines 16 and 17 to form front cover portions13 and 19 and rear cover portion or backing 2%. In the illustrationgiven, the front and rear cover portions 18 and 2d are rectangular inshape and are of approximately the same size as the rectangular mountingsheet 14. Front cover portion 19 is provided with a pointed locking tabportion 21 adapted to be inserted into the slit 22 of cover portion is arear plan view of the package of ddddgid? 18 when the two cover portionsare folded over the mounting sheet as shown in FIGURE 1.

Both the cover and the mounting sheet 14 are preferably formed frompaperboard or cardboard, although other materials may be used. Theprimary requirement is that these parts, and particularly the mountingsheet, be formed of a material which is flexible as well as tough anddurable. Thus, it is believed apparent that sheet materials ofpolyethylene, polypropylene, cellulose acetate and the like may also beadvantageously used for the holder of this needle package.

The mounting sheet 14 is connected to the backing or rear cover portion28 by a non-circular rivet 23, the rivet being spaced inwardly from theperipheral edges of the mounting sheet as illustrated most clearly inFIG- URES 2 and 3. While an oval rivet is shown, any suitable connectingmeans may be used as long as it provides a secure and generallycentrally located interconnection which will resist relative rotation ofthe backing and mounting sheets and will also resist relative rotationof the coil of thread carried thereby.

Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the mounting sheet 14 isprovided with a series of jagged openings or slits 24- and that theportions 24a of each slit are oriented at approximately right angles toeach other to define a series of tabs 25 arranged in alternatingapposition. The staggered tabs 25 extend over the intermediate portionof each needle 12 so that, when viewed from above, only the end portionsof each needle are disposed on the upper face of the mounting sheet. Aswill be observed, the longitudinal extent of each jagged slit 24 is lessthan the length of the needle 12 retained by t.e series of tabs formedby that slit.

The thread 13 connected to each needle 12 extends about the upper edgeof the card and is coiled about the rivet 23 between the under-surfaceof the mounting sheet and the upper face of the backing 29. Thesesurfaces are held in close proximity by the rivet and, as a result, thecoiled thread is frictionally restrained against uncoiling. If desired,the upper edge of the mounting sheet may be notched as indicated at 26so that the portion of each thread adjacent the eyelet of the needle towhich it is attached will be protected by the mounting sheet.

In the illustration given, the package contains a plurality of needles12, each needle being held in place by its own series of staggered tabs25. The large coil of thread 27 disposed behind the mounting sheet iscomposed of the coiled ends of all of the threads 13 attached to thegroup of needles. In the use of the package, it is desirable to uncoilthe threads in reverse order, the thread forming the outermost portionof the coil being unwound first. To facilitate such removal, I prefer toimprint the face of the mounting sheet with suitable indicia 28.indicating the order of removal of the threaded needles.

In the use of the package, a user simply spreads the front coverportions 18 and 19 to expose the needles retained by the mounting sheetand lifts the needle in the foremost position away from the face of themounting sheet. It should be emphasized that the needle is liftedlaterally off of the sheet rather than slid outwardly therefrom; suchsliding movement is prevented by the relatively taut portions of thethreads 13 which extend along the backside of the mounting sheet betweenthe eyes of the,

needles and coil 27. Thus, a threaded needle may be most easily detachedfrom the holder by lifting the exposed pointed end thereof away from themounting sheet until tabs 25 bend upwardly to release the body of theneedle. Thereafter, the user, holding the detached needle in one handand the package in the other, unwinds the thread of the free needle fromthe coil.

An important aspect of the present invention lies in the recognitionthat a compact and effective threaded In the modified construction ofFIGURES 6 through 9 the holder 11'- is formed from a single sheet offlexible material folded along line 29 to define a cover 15. and anintegral mounting sheet 14. The mounting sheet is provided with a jaggedslit 24' defining tabs 25 which extend over the intermediate portion ofneedle 12', leaving only the opposite end portions or" that needleexposed above the mounting sheet 14'. The thread 13, which is attachedto the needle as described in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES1-5, is Wound about the needle to form a coil 27' upon the upper face ofthe mounting sheet. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the coils of thread ex'tend beneath the opposite ends of the needle and are thereby anchored inplace against the upper surface of the mounting sheet. a p

If desired, the cover 15 may be provided'with a fastening tab portion 30adapted to be received within a slit 31 in the mounting sheet for thepurpose of holding the cover in the closed position illustrated inFIGURE 61 As in the first embodiment, detachment of the threaded needle12 is achieved simply by lifting it laterally or transversely away fromthe mounting sheet. Upon removal of the needle, the coil of thread isalso released for removal from the sheet 14' and may be readily uncoiledto prepare the needle for use.

'The embodiment of FIGURES 10 and 11 is similar to the embodiment ofFIGURES 6 through 9 except that only a single tab 25" is provided forholding the needle 12" in place. The tab is defined by a slit 24" ofarcuate shape, the length of the slit being substantially less than thetotal length of the needle.

By monntingthe needles for lateral detachmined series arrangementagainst the surface of To assist in holding the coil of thread 27" inplace, the

mounting sheet 14" is slit to form integral lugs or books 32 spaced fromthe arcuate slit on opposite sides thereof. As shown in the drawings,the coil of thread passes b neath the pointed lugs and also passesbeneath the exposed opposite ends of needle 12" and, therefore, the coilis held in place at four points upon the upper face of the mountingsheet.

As in the preceding'embodiments, detachment of needle 12 is achieved bysimply lifting it, rather than sliding it, away from the mounting sheet.The thread 13" may then be quickly removed from the mounting'sheeteither by unwinding it while the coil remains on the sheet or by liftingthe coil 27 away from the sheet and there,-

after straightening the thread.

in spaced series upon said sheet, the threads'of all of:

said needles being wound in a single coil and being arranged in saidcoil in the same sequence as the needle series with the thread from thefirst needle of said series forming the outermost convolutions and thethread from the last needle in said series forming the innermostconvolutions, and means provided by said package for hol ing said coilagainst relative movement with respect to said sheet.

2. The structure oficlalm 1 inwhich said first-rue tinned menascomprises a series of tabs formed integral with said sheet and bearingagainst said needles.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said holder is also provided w'ithacover extending over said sheet, coil, and needles. I 1

4. A threaded needle package comprising a holder and a plurality orthreaded needles attached thereto, said holder comprising a sheet'offlexible material having a plurality of flexible tabs extending overportions of said needles to hold said needles in a selected seriesagainst the surface of said sheet, each of said needles being re-.movable from said sheet by transverse movement against the force of atleast one of said tabs, the threads of all of said needles being woundin a single coil and being arranged in said coil in the same sequence-asthe needle series with the thread from the first needle of said seriesforming the outermost convolutions and the thread from the last needlein said series forming the innermost convolutions, and means provided bysaid holder for maintaining said coil against said sheet.

5. The structure of claim 4- in which said holder is also provided witha cover sheet, said coil being disposed between said first-mentionedsheet and atleast a portion of said cover sheet, and said last-mentionedmeans extending between said sheets and through the central portionofsaid coil. 7

' 6. A needle package comprising a holder and a plurality of threadedneedles removably attached thereto, said holder including 'a sheet offlexible material having a plurality of slits'defining a multiplicity ofintegral tabs, said tabs extending over intermediate portions of saidneedlesfor holding the same in position in a predetersaid sheet, thethreads of all of said needles being wound in a single coil and beingarranged in said coil in the same sequence as the series arrangement ofthe needles with the thread from'the first needle of said series formingthe outermost convolutions and the thread from the-last needle in saidseries. forming the innermost convolutions, said needles beingdetachable bytransverse movement thereof against the holding force ofsaid tabs, and means provided by said holder for restraining movement orsaid coil with respect to said sheet, whereby, said threaded needles maybe removed in sequence by lifting each needle one at a time from saidsheet and unwinding its thread from said coil. I

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said holder is also provided with acover sheet, said coil being disposed between said first-mentioned sheetand said cover sheet, and said last-mentioned means extending betweensaid sheets and through the central portion of said coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSFRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

EARLE'J. DRUMMOND Exa niner.

1. A NEEDLE PACKAGE COMPRISING A HOLDER AND A PLURALITY OF THREADEDNEEDLES, SAID HOLDER COMPRISING A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVINGYIELDABLE MEANS SUPPORTING EACH OF SAID NEEDLES FOR DETACHMENT BYTRANSVERSE MOVEMENT THEREOF, SAID NEEDLES BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID MEANSIN SPACED SERIES UPON SAID SHEET, THE THREADS OF ALL OF SAID NEEDLESBEING WOUND IN A SINGLE COIL AND BEING ARRANGED IN SAID COIL IN THE SAMESEQUENCE AS THE NEEDLE